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Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Performance Review: Men's Asics Gel DS Racer 9

My current running shoe for 90% of my training is the Asics Gel DS Racer 9. I found the shoe online in the fall and got a great deal so I decided to give it a try. When I was looking, my main requirements in no particular order were comfort, affordability, a little bit of stability, and barely any weight to it. In my opinion, this shoe is the best combination of everything I am looking for. In addition to the things I was looking for, the fit is phenomenal. It really feels as if the shoe fits my foot well. The shoe is light and fast. I find it the perfect shoe to train low and high volumes in. I would not race a 5K looking for a PR in them, but in a 10K up to a marathon distance, this would be a great option for training and racing because of the lightweight feel and ride.

I enjoy that it has some stability and cushion, but I do not feel a pillowy effect from it being too soft. It moves when I need it to move with my foot, but nothing that feels inefficient or sloppy.

The link above brings you to a page at a store, but I mainly linked it there so you could check out the specifications and product information. Interestingly, the 2014 model of this shoe just came out in January. Apparently, the upgrade reduces even more weight and utilizes new technologies to make the shoe even more built for speed and racing. The model 9 version is still easy to find online and is about half the price. I have not seen the new version for myself and it is still to early to get a pulse on what people are thinking.